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THE Island Neighbourhood Project (INP) began in September 1980 with the appointment of one worker who operated from her own home as a base on the Isle of Dogs, an area within Tower Hamlets in the East End of London.

The project was a result of a theological and practical decision by the people of Poplar mission who had exam ined honestly the lack of impact of the Church on the lives of working class people in the area and realised that a completely new approach was needed to change this.

The Church provided the stability of an established organisation which was accompanied by charitable status and hence the ability to raise grants from trusts and other funders. The worker whom they appointed was not ordained but a local woman with experience in developing Youth Work Projects in order that it was not perceived as “just another church initiative”.

This was supported by the lack of “expected return”, i.e. people were not required to become “churchgoers” or gain added involvement but it was purely a medium for addressing the many needs that were quite apparent on the Island at the time.

The project did not move into its own premises until the Summer of 1984. This took the form of a flat provided by the East London Housing Association and along with new funds from the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC), INP became more secure with its position agreeing a degree of consolidation. Two subsequent moves of premises followed until INP

took residence within the current Red Shop in Westferry Road. Original services were focused towards women who were unemployed and, at times, housebound with a lack of resources, income and friends available in the area. This developed into mother and toddler groups, lunch clubs, drop-in and advice sessions, youth programmes and organising activities/trips for local people.

The main ethos of INP is to locate and work with those who are most in need through hardship, lack of opportunities or discrimination and it has been suggested that the project works with those people for whom no other organisation provides adequate welcome.

Whilst the area has a significant number of successful Community Centres, they are often utilised by particular groups or people with similar interests which therefore reduces the availability for others who might benefit from such a resource.

Whilst the project recognises what good work has been conducted by such centres, a different model and approach has been adopted taking into account outreach practise and cross cultural, multi-sectoral development which we feel has contributed to the reputation acquired and the fact that the project is accepted by local people as one which is looking out for their best interests.

The area has seen many changes in political activity, regeneration and particularly demographic breakdown with a growing number of Bangladeshi families moving onto the Island. This has led to the Project continuing to develop service provision, which has meant adding staff, new projects and managing a growing budget. INP is probably one of the few Church-based initiatives employing ethnic minority workers to develop local ethnic communities and foster community relations between the diverse ranges of cultures who have to live together.